Mike Veeck to be enshrined in Florida State League’s Hall of Fame

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Veeck

Mike Veeck, who is credited with helping revitalize Minor League Baseball with his “Fun Is Good” marketing approach, will be one of nine new members in the Florida State League’s 2013 Hall of Fame class when the league holds their induction ceremony on Nov. 12 at the Plaza Resort and Spa in Daytona Beach.

Veeck joined The Goldklang Group in November of 1989 and immediately energized the Florida State League. Creating numerous promotions meant to entertain fans and enhance the ballpark experience, Veeck joined the Miracle as the team’s president in 1990.

Then located in Pompano Beach, Veeck was intimately involved in the transition to Fort Myers prior to the 1992 season.

With a vision for fun at Hammond Stadium and a mission to take care of every fan, Veeck’s legacy remains a strong part of the Miracle operating philosophy. In 2005, Veeck was recognized as one of the 25 most influential people in baseball over the last quarter-century. He has advised several companies and has been profiled in stories on “60 Minutes” and in numerous magazines.

A third-generation baseball executive and team owner, Veeck was the innovator behind the infamous Disco Demolition Night while working for his father, Bill Veeck, and the Chicago White Sox in 1979. Veeck has worked in marketing positions with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers.

Veeck authored the book “Fun is Good: How to Create Joy and Passion in Your Workplace,” which describes how this simple philosophy leads to success in any business.

A part owner in a number of Minor League Baseball teams, Veeck resides in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Libby.

An inductee as an executive, Veeck is joined in the 2013 Florida State Hall of Fame class by Ron Myers from the Lakeland Flying Tigers. Players in this year’s class include Al Nipper, Ramon Martinez, Jimmy Rollins and David Wright. Current Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter and Detroit Tigers Minor League Field Coordinator Bill Dancy along with MLB umpire Jerry Layne will also be part of the ceremonies as inductees.

Veeck joins principal owner of the Fort Myers Miracle, Marv Goldklang, in the Florida State League Hall of Fame. Goldklang was inducted in 2010 and serves as the chairman of The Goldklang Group.

The Goldklang Group owns and operates four minor league baseball franchises: the Fort Myers Miracle, Charleston RiverDogs, St. Paul Saints, Hudson Valley Renegades, as well as the Futures Collegiate Baseball League Pittsfield Suns.

He was enshrined in the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame in 2006.

“Mike has been my partner and friend for nearly 25 years and deserves the credit for much, if not most, of what we’ve been fortunate enough to achieve in Ft. Myers over the years,” said Goldklang. “He is most deserving of this very special honor.”

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